Sprinkler.



W. WEBSTER.

SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1, 1912.

1,1 14,079, Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

l Amman THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D, C.

W. WEBSTER.

SPRINKLER.

APPLIUATION FILED AUG. 1, 1913.

1 1 1 4,079. Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mum. [Zr/moi,

attorney.

THE NORRIS PETERS C04, PHOTO-LITH-I. WASHINGTON. u L

. WILLIAM wnns'rnn, or Lennon, ENGLAND.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 20, 1914.

Application filed August- 1, 1913., Serial No. 782,430.

To all whom it may concern. 1

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM WEBSTER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, and resident of 44L Munster Square, Regents Park, London, N. M,England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inSprinklers, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to sprinklers for distributing water or otherliquids in adiffused condition, as for example for use in watering lawnsand for other-horticultural purposes, or for any other purpose requiringa liquid to be sprinkled or sprayed over a wide area. i

It is the object of the invention to provide a simple and inexpensiveform of sprinkler which will fulfil the requirement of throwing a liquidin a dittused condition and distributing it approximately evenly over awide area. This object is attained by using a length of flexiblepipingwith a nozzle at the free end thereof, and by arranging that thereshall be a considerable length of the piping flexibly supported so thatit shall be free to take up a great variety of forms and positions inorder to direct said nozzle and the liquid issuing therefrom indirections which will be continually changing.

Further objects, and the means adopted for attainingthem, will beapparent from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows one form of the apparatus in sideelevation; Fig. 2 is a detail view partly in section illustrating amodification; Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly broken away showinganother form of the apparatus; and Figs. 4 and 5 are de-.

tail views illustrating further modifications.

The same reference letters indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

Referring first to Fig. 1', A represents astand pipe mounted on a baseor support B of any suitable type, and having a fitting for connectionto a source of supply of water or other liquid under a pressure headsuch as is usually available. A hose pipe maybe E. It is very importantthat aconsiderable length of flexible piping should be used, as thedistribution ofthe liquid approximately evenly over a wide area dependsupon the contorting action of the liquid under pressure in flowingthrough this piping and out through the nozzle F at the free endthereof.

1 If the piping E is too short it cannot be greatly contorted by theliquid but tends to stop in one position. I have found that by using alength of say about three feet of flexible rubber piping, and supportingit in a flexible manner near to its free or nozzle end, say about nineinches from the end, admirable results are obtainable while usingmoderate waterpressures well. within the,

range of pressures usually available from a town water supply. Theinvention is by no means limited to these lengths for theflexiblepiping, but they are mentioned by way of example only, and they may bevaried according to the water pressure available, the section orthickness of:the flexible piping, and so forth. For supporting theflexible piping near its free end I use a spring member M with a coiledportion at L and an arm which engages in a socketmember N attached tothe stand pipeA; the spring member M is free to turn in the socketmember N, as for instance by having its end resting on a ball I (Fig. 2)in the bottom of the socket. The outer end of the member M carries achain K with swivel joint H in it, and an adjustable clip or collar Gfor engaging with the piping B. By suitably regulating the flow ofliquid to this apparatus, the liquid pressure acting in the piping E maybe adjusted so that the-liquid will contort this pipinginto a greatvariety of sinuous forms which Willa be continually changing, theliquidbeing thrown out in all piping E maybe caused to be thrown upward rathermorev than before so that the liquid will be thrown to a greaterdistance.

a In this wayshrubs and flowers around the lawn or other place on whichthe apparatus is standing, may be conveniently watered. The springsupport M with its chain K permits the length of piping E to turnpractically into all directions around the stand pipe A.

In the modification shown in Fig. 2,'the stand pipe A has two branches Dfor connection thereto of two lengths of piping such as E, for which twospring supports M are required, each engaging in a separate socket inthe member N. In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the stand: pipe A hastwo branches D, and in or derto increase the range of the sprinkler,the. lengths of piping E are carried outward'on frames B each bearing aflexibly supported length of piping E at its end. These frames may bemade collapsible, in the-example illustrated each consisting of alazy-tongs construction carrying the spring member M in a socket memberS, while hearing a socket Q for holding the flexible pip- E andconnecting to it the outermost flexible length of piping E with thenozzle F thereon. The length of piping E may be hung from the frame R'byloops or the likeV. In order to permit the frames R to turn to someextent about the stand A if required, owing to the forces brought intoplay by'the contorting lengths of piping, the collars' R R supporting.the frames on the up ward extension A of the stand A may be left free toturn on the member A to a limited extent. For example the uppercollarli'. may be notched as at R to accommodate? the head of a stud Raflixed to the inembe'rA,wl1ich will allow said collar to tiifiiwithirithe limits of movement of the notch over the stud R The lazy tongsfrain'es'may also be held extended in a flexible manner so that thecontortions of the pipes E at their ends, and the varying forces broughtinto play thereby, may cause said frames R to expand and contract to acertain extent when in use. For this purpose it is su'flicient tosupport the lower collar R of the frames Ron a spring T which may be'djustably supported on the member A by a nut T;

In the modification shown in Fig. 4;, the whole of the head portion ofthe device is made slightly flexible in order to attain a somewhatsimilar result. The extension of the stand A consists of two members Aand A whose ends are separated, the connection between them being formedby a stiff spiral spring U. This figure also indicates a head havingframemembers R arranged at right angles, while the stand pipe hasbranches D for the connection of pipes E and E carfied by each framememberR.

. In the further modification shown in Fig.

' 5; the two members A and A are connected together by a ball and socketjoint W, while a barrel-shaped spring X tends to keep the members inline but permits a certain amount of bending over of the head of thedevice toward any side.

It will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but the only essential featureembodied in all the constructions consists of one or more flexiblelengths of piping extendingoutnuird laterally from a suitable stand,each length of piping having a nozzle at its free end, and having meansof support holding it laterally extended while allowing of a wide rangeof free contorting movement.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let-- ters Patent is 1. A sprinkler for liquids comprising a,stand, a length of flexible piping mounted thereon, and means forconnecting the piping at one end to a source of liquid supplied underpressure, said len th of flexible piping being free to extend outlaterally from the stand in great variety of sinuous forms, a nozzle atthe free end of said flexible piping and means for supporting saidflexible piping at a single point at a distance from its free end, thesupporting means being such as to leave the piping at liberty to turnfreely in all directions around the point of support, while permittingalso of a wide freedom of sinuous movement of said piping both behindand in front of the point of support.

2. A sprinkler for liquids, comprising a stand, a length of flexiblepiping mounted thereon and means for connecting it at one end to asource of liquid, supplied under pressure, said length of flexiblepiping being free to extend out laterally from the stand in a greatvariety of sinuous forms, a nozzle at the free end of said flexiblepiping, a springy support rcvolubly mounted on said stand, meanssupporting said flexible piping from the springy support at a singlepoint near its free end.

3. A sprinkler for liquids, comprising a stand, a length of flexiblepiping mounted thereon and means for connecting it at one end to asource of liquid supplied under pressure, said length of flexible pipingbeing free to extend out laterally from the stand in a great variety ofsinuous forms, a nozzle at the free end of said flexible piping, andmeans for supporting said flexible piping at a point near to its freeend, said supporting means comprising a chain with a swivel jointtherein, a clip holding the piping at the lower end of said chain, aspringy support with an arm carrying the chain, and means for carryingsaid springy support in a revoluble manner on the stand.

4. A sprinkler for liquids comprising a stand, a plurality of lengths offlexible piping mounted thereon, and means for conlOll stand having ahead portion and a base.

portion, with means flexibly connecting said portions and normallykeeping said head portion in an approximately upright position over thebase portion, a plurality of lengths of flexiblepiping and meanssupporting them from said head portion of the, stand in such manner asto leave each length of the piping free to be contorted into a greatvariety of forms by the flovv of liquid therethrough, means forsupplying liquid under pressure to said flexible piping, and nozzles atthe outer ends of the respective lengths of pip- $5. A sprinkler forliquids comprising a stand having a head portion and a base portion,with a joint permitting of turning in all directions from a mid positionconnect ing said head portion to the base portion thereof, and a springmember tending normally to hold said head portionapproximately in anupright position, a plurality of lengths of flexible piping and meanssupporting them from said head portion of the stand in such manner as toleave each length of the piping free to be contorted into a greatvariety of forms by the flow of liquid therethrough, means for supplyingliquid under pressure to said flexible piping, and

nozzles at the outer ends of the respective lengths of piping.

7. A sprinkler for liquids comprising a point near hollow stand, aplurality of arms revolubly mounted thereon, a pluralityof lengths offlexible piping each supported at a single point intermediate its endsby one of said arms, the connection being such as to permit the pipingto move in all directions about the point of support, said lengths ofpiping.

being connected at one end to the hollow stand, means for connecting thehollow standto a source of'liquid supplied under pressure, and nozzlesat the free ends of the lengths of piping.

8. A'sprinkler for liquids comprising a stand with a plurality of arms,each formed as a lazy tongs frame, extending laterally therefrom, springmeans for holding said lazy tongs frames extended, a plurality offlexible pipes and means for carrying them upon said arms 1n such manneras to permit them to take up a great variety of sinuous forms, and meansfor conveying liquid under pressure to said flexible pipes.

9. A sprinkler for liquids comprising a stand Withaplurality of. armsextending laterally I therefrom, and means supporting said arms on thestand in such manner as to permit turning movement of the armsrelatively to the stand, a stop limiting said turning movement, a,plurality of flexible pipes and means for carryingthem upon said arms insuch manner asto permit them to take up a greatvariety of sinuous formsand means for conveying liquid under pressure to said flexible pipes.

In- Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 18th day ofJuly 1913 in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM WEBSTER. Witnesses: HUBERT A. GILL,

, HENRY WILLIAM. BLAKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

